diff --git a/Cantera/matlab/cantera/@Transport/trans_hndl.m b/Cantera/matlab/cantera/@Transport/trans_hndl.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ae8c76fc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/matlab/cantera/@Transport/trans_hndl.m
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+function n = trans_hndl(a)
+n = a.id;